Willow Creek Campground and Reservoir, Pronghorn Antelope

At Sunset Point Campground, Lake Granby, Colorado

Willow Creek Reservoir and Campground is about 3 miles down a dirt road off of the highway that leads from Granby to the National Park, and is about 4-5 miles from our campground.  The National Forest Campground is larger than the one at Sunset Point, but the dirt road seems to hamper some people from going over there…it shouldn’t, because the dirt road is in excellent condition, although the one lane road over the dam might scare some people off.  To get around that, if one turns to the right at the dam, it will take them to a wide turnaround, which will give them a straight shot across the dam so they don’t have to worry about negotiating a turn and a narrow road at the same time.

The Willow Creek Dam raises the water about 175 feet, allowing for gravity flow into Lake Granby, which assists in the diversion of water through the Alva B. Adams Tunnel under the Continental Divide to the east side of the Rocky Mountains. 

The lake encompasses about 300 acres, motorized boats are not allowed, and it seems like a nice, peaceful area to camp.

The Willow Creek Campground has 35 campground sites, all of which are first-come, first-camping.   When I drove through today (Monday), the park was about 35% full at most.  There are many sites which could handle our set-up, and at least a dozen that could handle a 40 foot motorhome or 5th wheel.  No electric, water or dump station, at a price of $21 per night, along with the access fee to area which varies depending upon how long you stay.  With a senior pass, the access fee is waived, and the per night fee is cut in half.  Had we not gotten a site at Sunset Point, I wouldn’t have minded camping at Willow Creek at all.

   

Above are three examples of empty sites which one could have picked today.  All long enough for large RVs, and two had some view of the lake.  Please note, there is NO water intake for RVs, only for filling containers for washing dishes, drinking.  There is NO dump station, despite a few Internet Sites which say that there are.  I talked to the camp host asking about a dump station, and he said there has never been a dump station at Willow Creek Campground in Colorado.

Yesterday when I went to the library to post the blog and download some music for Marcia, I spotted a bunch of Pronghorn Antelope in a rancher’s field on the way to Granby.  Today, on the way to do laundry, I saw only about six in that same field (there was around twenty yesterday), so after unloading the clean clothes, I went back and got this picture. 

This is our new neighbor, I think his name is Mike.  A few years ago he bought this empty cargo trailer, and converted it into a slick camper trailer.  He was (he is just over 70 years old now) a general contractor, and on the inside is the nicest woodwork that I have ever seen in a conversion like this.  He said that it cost him less than $5,000, and took him a week to put the inside together, except for the back shelving which is behind those two back doors…he did that the next year so that he could store everything he needs right in the trailer and not haul things in and out of his truck all the time.  The Kayak is about 10 years old, and he comes up to Lake Granby from the Greely area about six times per year to paddle around the lake.  He said that 10 years ago he could do it all in one day, now he does half one day, cutting across the lake to come back to the campground, and then the next day he starts out the other way and does the same.  Well, today’s winds took its toll on him, and for the first time he had to call for assistance from a local marina to come pick him up.  He started out at 7 am, and by 10 am the wind was blowing so hard it knocked him sidewise for a bit.  Trying to paddle against the wind, he said in 5 minutes he had only traveled about a yard…so he gave up.  Normally the winds don’t pick up until around 2 pm or after…but not today.  He is headed home tomorrow.

Three times on this trip I have watched people either setting up or tearing down their pop-up tent trailers.  I am convinced that I will NEVER have one of these…it took these folks two hours to break camp yesterday, wow!

There are a bunch of these little critters running around the park…the Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel.  One day when I was sitting out without my camera, three came very close to me…would have had easy camera shots of them.  Went and got my camera, and now they are camera shy, staying a long way away.  Funny thing, just a few hours before getting this shot, I was over talking to Mike about his trailer and a Golden Eagle was on the same fence, just three posts down from where this critter is sitting.  Of course, I did not have my camera…shucks.  Never been that close to one in the wild before.

It sure seemed like it was going to rain a couple of times yesterday afternoon…but other than a drop or two, it never hit us.

Sure can make for some interesting pictures though…

When we woke up and took the dogs out at 7:30, there were water puddles on the street, and the car and motorhome were covered in water droplets. Funny thing, neither Marcia nor I heard the rain during the night.  Today’s high winds have kept the threat of rain out of the forecast this afternoon…steady winds around 20, gusts hitting 30 mph, according to Mike, with 40-45 gusts up at the passes.  But the temps have been around 74 today for a high, but will dip down to 40 tonight. 

Lake Granby Weekend

At Sunset Point Campground, Lake Granby, CO

  

Having driven through Rocky Mountain National Park, I knew that we did not want to stay over in the Estes Park area…’WAY’ too many people.  Thought about trying to get into the Timber Creek Campground, which is inside the National Park…but when I saw all the various camping options between the cities of Granby and Grand Lakes, with three large lakes, Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain and Grand Lake…well, I decided to look into this area a bit closer. 

The Stillwater Campground, as seen Saturday late afternoon above from across the lake from us, is the biggest campground, mostly through reservations, but with a handful of first come-first camp situations.  I am sure this campground was much more appealing when it had more trees…which were removed years ago due to the Pine Beatle infestation.  I am sure most campsites have a view of the lake now…but they also have a view of just about every other campsite in the campground. 

When I saw that Sunset Point Campground was all first come-first camp type of park, that appealed to me.  When I saw that the campground still had trees, that appealed to me.  When I saw that it is laid out along the lake, all on one road (no loops) along the lakeside, that appealed to me.  Now, as a first come-first camp park, you have to have a plan…our plan was to arrive on Tuesday around 11 am…that worked real good.  We immediately met camp host Suzzie and her friend Elaine who were riding a golf cart up and down the road.  Suzzie, who works along with her husband Rick, rattled of a list of campsites which were available…and suggested campsite #12.  We got down to 12, and yep, did not need to go further.  As we were setting up, she comes by and hands us a pay slip, says she will be back through later to pick it up…cool.  Later, when talking to Rick, I found out they have worked here for 8 years straight now…come up from Fort Worth each year.  The picture above is what we see right outside our entry door…and the park is full.

Yesterday late afternoon, soaking up the 78 degree weather, I sat at the rear of the motorhome in the shade and took this picture above of a gal walking her dog.  Look at how hard it is to see her and the dog, yet they are right in the middle of the picture.  The picture to the right is a close up of them.  There are lots of dogs here this weekend, and keeping them all on leashes has been a slight issue until Rick catches them and says, “only one more warning, after that you and the dog are out of here!”  But the point I want to make is that with all the trees, yes, our view of the lake is impaired a bit…so is the view and noise of the neighbors…especially distant neighbors.  And the nights have been so quiet, especially after 10 pm when generators have to be off.  Honestly, I have heard a few generators, but nothing that caused us any grief. 

    

With no campers behind us, it is where I normally walk the dogs…away from the street and away from the view of other dogs.  Had a Long Haired Dachshund, who was being walked on a leash, get away from its owner as it was being put into their motorhome…and it rushed over to say hello to Skruffy and Bubba.  Bubba just stares and wags his tail, Skruffy and the other Dachshund have to bark at each other to let each other know that they are related…honestly, their barks was like listening to a stereo of Dachshunds barking.

    

Have not seen any wildlife on this end of the lake, but I did find two Osprey nest nearby.  The one on the left is further away from us, but right alongside the road…the one on the right is closer to our location, but much further away from the road, but down an embankment so you can see more of the nest.  I have seen these birds flying through the park, but with the trees, they suddenly appear, and then they are gone, headed to or from the lake.

As I drove over the dam yesterday, I got this shot of the Colorado River.  They won’t let you stop on the dam at all…safety issue they say from 9-11 attacks.  The Colorado looks so small…

…but this picture above was taken of the Colorado up in the National Park.  The headwaters of the Colorado are up in the park, and to see those headwaters, one has to hike about 10 miles along the river.  This picture was taken just a mile from the Visitor’s Center.  Now that the weekend is over, we plan to head back up into the park…probably Tuesday since Monday is going to be laundry day.  Today we will just sit back and enjoy the departure of about 1/3 of the parks occupants, and the rush of newcomers looking for a spot for a day or two.

From Yampa River to Lake Granby, Sunset Point Campground near Rocky Mountain National Park

Sunset Point Campground, Near Granby, CO

We enjoyed our two days at Yampa River State Park…it was quieter on Monday than on Sunday, which itself was very quiet.  Weekends are busy…weekdays are not, and those who did not leave on Sunday, departed on Monday only leaving about 10% of the park occupied, with another 5% arriving Monday for a night or two. 

Had a bit of rain Monday afternoon…leaving a great sunset opportunity which I took advantage of.

  

Earlier in the afternoon, I sat outside looking for Osprey…but instead found Pelican and Heron flaying around just before the rain hit.

I am glad we stayed two nights at Yampa River State Park…it now gives us the opportunity to stay in the Grand Lakes region for two weeks, which will put us through past Labor Day.

Our 130 mile journey today took us along the Yampa River…

  

Through Steamboat Springs…

And up over 9,200 feet just east of Steamboat Springs.  A little bit of construction, along with a few stretches of 2nd gear, 30 mph speeds (for us, not others who passed us), and we made it over Rabbit Ears Pass.

Through a narrow canyon, a quick turn onto US Highway 34, and we arrived at Lake Granby nearly 3 hours after leaving Yampa River State Park..  Hoping to get a spot at Sunset Point Campground, a first come, first in type of national forest campground, and we would have it made…and we scored on of the last spots that could fit us in.  Well, there were two others which were “double” spots, or “group” spots…at $48 per night…no thank you.  But there were two which would fit us, and we took one of them…$12 with the National Park Senior Pass!  SCORE!!!!!

   

There are many National Forest Campgrounds in and around the Granby-Grand Lakes area.  The largest, Stillwater Campground, has around 130 camping sites, many available through reservations.  The drawback is, they cut down the trees a few years ago due to the pine beetle epidemic.

On the far side of the lake from us, you can see the RVs camping at Stillwater.  Good views, but there is something about having a few trees to enhance your camping experience.  Another thing about Sunset, it is closer to Granby, which means closer to the store—a nice Kroger City Market store--only 8 miles away from us.

Lake Granby (Reservoir) was created in 1950 by the creation of the dam.  The lake formed is the third largest lake in Colorado, with 40 miles of shoreline, a depth of over 200 feet.  Unlike most dams, the water is not released just at the dam…much of it is pumped out at the Farr Pump plant on the north side, far end of the above picture, where the water is pumped into the Shadow Mountain Lake, which is connected to the Grand Lake, the largest natural lake in Colorado.  This water is pumped through the 13 mile long, nearly 10 foot in diameter, Alva B. Adams Tunnel, through the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountain National Park, to the east side of the Rockies where 80% of the population lives.  This project, which includes ten other dams and reservoirs, was called the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, named after the Big and Little Thompson Rivers.  Constructed between 1938 and 1957, with a break in construction during WW2, the project was completed.  The river that runs into and out of Lake Granby is the Colorado River.

Most likely we will stay at Sunset Point for two weeks, the full 14 days that they will allow…this will get us through the Labor Day weekend.  From here we will take the car on a few trips, especially into the Rocky Mountain National Park…the Grand Lake Entrance is only 18 miles from here…although the eastern entrance near Estes Park is 75 miles away…it will make for a long travel day, that is for sure…but we are use to that.